Which Pipes Freeze First?

Frozen pipes are a hot topic on homeowners’ minds as the temperatures continue to drop. Knowing how to winterize your pipes and prevent them from freezing over is incredibly important. Frozen pipes can lead to burst pipes which can lead to major damage and expenses.

So, which pipes would freeze first? Generally speaking, the following pipes will freeze first:

Pipes that are outside

Pipes that are in areas of your home that aren’t heated or insulated

Pipes that are in your exterior walls

Other pipes in your home have the potential to freeze if the temperature drops, but the ones listed above are the most common culprits.

How to prevent frozen pipes

Thankfully, preventing frozen pipes isn’t too difficult, as long as you follow these simple tips for winterizing your pipes:

NEVER turn off the heat – this one is incredibly important. Never turn off the heat when you leave home in the winter. Your home needs to maintain a steady temperature to keep the pipes from freezing over. We recommend keeping the temperature set to at least 55 degrees or higher.

Insulate your pipes – particularly in areas where your pipes are on an outside wall, make sure to insulate your pipes so they can keep the warmth in.

Use a small space heater – it may also be necessary to invest in a small space heater for areas where you can’t keep your pipes warm, such as a bathroom against an exterior wall.

Shut off your outdoor water & open hose bibb – this one is probably the most important thing homeowners can do to winterize their pipes. Turn off the external water supply and open the hose bibb to allow water to drip out and for the pipes to expand.

Turn off any other outdoor water systems – if you have a sprinkler or other outdoor water system, make sure to shut that off as well. You may need to contact a professional to remove any excess water.

It’s also crucial that you know how to turn off your water. In the event that your pipes do burst, being able to turn off the water can be the difference between a minor leak and a major disaster. Locate the shut-off valve–they are usually in the basement, garage, or another utility area.

What to do if you have frozen pipes

If your pipes freeze over, make sure to turn off the water at the shut-off valve and open all of your faucets to allow water and pressure to be released. Next, call a trusted local plumber like James A. Wheat & Sons. We’ll come out and help you defrost your pipes or repair them in the event that they have become damaged.

We had a new natural gas water heater replaced today by John and Damon of Wheat & Sons. This was not an easy job, as it was on the 3rd floor of our DC townhouse. Having tired of dealing with some marginal contractors for other home repairs, I decided to spend a few extra dollars for the horsepower of a responsible organization with bench strength. That paid off. Because of some glitches in the replacement, these two installers spent most...

We had a new natural gas water heater replaced today by John and Damon of Wheat & Sons. This was not an easy job, as it was on the 3rd floor of our DC townhouse. Having tired of dealing with...

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Our technician, Tom, was outstanding. He was thorough, thoughtful, explained the work to be done, the cost, options, and seemed to take the minimum amount of time to complete the work. The technician’s helper, who came along with Tom, was also a great asset. It was a wonderful experience for us. But, it always is when we call James A. Wheat & Sons. Thank you for providing us with such good service.

Our technician, Tom, was outstanding. He was thorough, thoughtful, explained the work to be done, the cost, options, and seemed to take the minimum amount of time to complete the work. The technician’s helper, who came along with Tom, was...

- James G. Rea | Rockville, MD

Technician was prompt, polite, and obviously new his business. He thoroughly checked our fireplace insert, and made acheck for CO in the room. His work reassured us that the insert and its inlet-outlet system had not suffered earthquake damage. That's just what we needed to know.

Technician was prompt, polite, and obviously new his business. He thoroughly checked our fireplace insert, and made acheck for CO in the room. His work reassured us that the insert and its inlet-outlet system had not suffered earthquake damage. That's...

- Terri J. | Gaithersburg, MD

I have been impressed with your company and its people from the day your sales person walked in here, through all service personel, and now. By the way, this is a fantastic system. Our energy costs are much lower then before, the airflow is practically unnoticeable, the air temp inside is even, the humidity contstant, and we have had no failures since installation.

I have been impressed with your company and its people from the day your sales person walked in here, through all service personel, and now. By the way, this is a fantastic system. Our energy costs are much lower then...